reference

1 of 3

noun

ref·​er·​ence ˈre-fərn(t)s 

ˈre-f(ə-)rən(t)s

1

: the act of referring or consulting

2

: a bearing on a matter : relation

in reference to your recent letter

3

: something that refers: such as

a

: allusion, mention

b

: something (such as a sign or indication) that refers a reader or consulter to another source of information (such as a book or passage)

c

: consultation of sources of information

4

: one referred to or consulted: such as

a

: a person to whom inquiries as to character or ability can be made

b

: a statement of the qualifications of a person seeking employment or appointment given by someone familiar with the person

c(1)

: a source of information (such as a book or passage) to which a reader or consulter is referred

(2)

: a work (such as a dictionary or encyclopedia) containing useful facts or information

d

: denotation, meaning

reference

2 of 3

adjective

: used or usable for reference

especially : constituting a standard for measuring or constructing

reference

3 of 3

verb

referenced; referencing

transitive verb

1

a

: to supply with references

b

: to cite in or as a reference

2

: to put in a form (such as a table) adapted to easy reference

Synonyms

Noun

• authority
• source

Examples of reference in a Sentence

Noun

references to an earlier event

The numbers were calculated by reference to the most recent census.

Reference to a map will make the position clear.

She listed her former teacher as a reference when she applied for the job.

Her former teacher gave her a reference when she applied for the job.

Her teacher gave her a letter of reference.

Adjective

a list of reference materials

Verb

The book references many other authors who have written on this topic.

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Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The rarefied reference was typical of Mr. Schickele’s comedy. —Allan Kozinn, Washington Post, 18 Jan. 2024

The anniversary reference, on the other hand, is limited to 500 examples. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 18 Jan. 2024

The site’s name was a reference to Tony Montana’s tattoo in the film Scarface. —Marc Hogan, Rolling Stone, 18 Jan. 2024

The superposition of waves – both from the reference and the object – creates an interference pattern, which is called a hologram. —Partha Banerjee, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2024

Cultural references won't be completely off the table as long as the point gets across – such as buckling up, slowing down or driving sober – but that means paring down on some of the niche quotes that may confuse drivers not privy to the message's theme. —Erin Couch, The Enquirer, 16 Jan. 2024

The references to Harvey Weinstein are simply meant to inflame and appear to be plagiarized from prior cases against Mr. Weinstein. —C Mandler, CBS News, 16 Jan. 2024

Lohan took the joke as a distasteful reference to the derogatory nickname that haunted her in the mid-aughts. —Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 16 Jan. 2024

Though Taiwan’s official name is the Republic of China, a holdover from when Chinese nationalists fled there, R.O.C. references were hard to find. —Damien Cave, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2024

Adjective

The gallery’s wall configuration, which has been fixed for quite some time, has now been opened up in refreshingly spacious ways that allow a viewer to visually cross-reference paintings. —Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 19 Nov. 2022

This is despite progress; many country national climate action plans now cross-reference gender, and country delegations include more women. —Catherine McKenna, Scientific American, 8 Nov. 2022

Some problems occurred because the system didn’t properly cross-reference country codes used on a money-laundering watchlist with the country codes used to process wire transfers, the SEC said. —Richard Vanderford, WSJ, 20 May 2022

State officials regularly cross-reference voting records with BMV records, which list someone’s citizenship status on their driver’s license. —Andrew J. Tobias, cleveland, 12 July 2021

This process sees them cross-reference lists of the dead from the Washington Department of Health and the Social Security Administration. —Tim Gruver, Washington Examiner, 11 Dec. 2020

The access could help OFAC cross-reference information with other investigators, including those in the U.S. intelligence community, said Mr. Lorber, a former senior adviser to the Treasury’s undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence. —Jack Hagel, WSJ, 7 Sep. 2020

Verb

Organizing efforts at Sheldon’s stores were not referenced as a factor in his announcement to sell. —Jonah Valdez, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2024

Trump has since begun to reference Haley's Civil War gaffe in his own campaigning. —Kyler Alvord, Peoplemag, 17 Jan. 2024

The premiere episode was taped earlier on Tuesday — and for proof, Tomlinson referenced Monday night’s Emmy Awards. —Michael Schneider, Variety, 17 Jan. 2024

Lindsay Lohan did not appreciate a line in the new Mean Girls film that appears to reference a crude comment about the actress that made headlines nearly two decades ago. —Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Jan. 2024

Both stars embraced gowns that references red blossoms; call them Roses Are Red Barbies. —Christian Allaire, Vogue, 15 Jan. 2024

The White House Executive Order references chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) risks, and multiple bills are now under consideration by the U.S. Congress to address these threats. —IEEE Spectrum, 12 Jan. 2024

The video saw the singer walking around a city with people frozen in space while holding up a glass of rum, referencing the track’s title. —Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 11 Jan. 2024

The minimal design blends traditional Cycladic architecture and elements referencing Santorini's mining past. —Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 6 Jan. 2024

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Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1856, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1876, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing reference

• for future reference
• cross-reference
• frame of reference
• in reference to
• point of reference
• reference library
• reference point
• make reference to
• reference mark
• self-reference
• terms of reference
• with reference to

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• for future reference
• cross-reference
• frame of reference
• in reference to
• point of reference
• reference library
• reference point
• make reference to
• reference mark
• self-reference
• terms of reference
• with reference to

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Kids Definition

reference

1 of 2 noun

ref·​er·​ence ˈref-ərn(t)s 

ˈref-(ə-)rən(t)s

1

: the act of referring

2

: a relation to or concern with something : respect

with reference to what was said

3

a

: a remark referring to something : allusion

made reference to our agreement

b

: a sign or indication referring a reader to another book or portion of a written work

c

: use as sources of information

volumes for ready reference

4

a

: a person to whom questions as to another person's honesty or ability can be addressed

b

: a statement of the qualifications of a person seeking employment or appointment given by someone familiar with them

c

: a book, document, or portion of a written work to which a reader is referred

reference

2 of 2 adjective

: used or usable for reference

a reference point

Medical Definition

reference

1 of 2 adjective

ref·​er·​ence ˈref-(ə-)rən(t)s 

: of known potency and used as a standard in the biological assay of a sample of the same drug of unknown strength

a dose of reference cod-liver oil

reference

2 of 2

see idea of reference

Legal Definition

reference

noun

ref·​er·​ence ˈre-frəns, -fə-rəns 

1

: an act of referring

specifically : mention or citation of one document (as a statute) in another

a municipality may adopt by reference all or a part of this title

—Alaska Statutes

see also incorporate

2

: a referral especially to a legislative committee or master

also : an order referring a matter to a master

the extent to which any party is more responsible than other parties for the reference to a master

—Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 53(g)